A Cowboy and Me

by Tammy Gilbert - Story Teller & Published Author, Decorator & Aesthetician

How to find your perfect perfume

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IN SEARCH OF A NEW SCENT?

HERE IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO SO.

With so many spritzes and sprays out there, shopping for perfume can lead to serious sensory overload. Fragrance expert and V.P. of Business Development for Fragrance Net, Patti Kapla, shares how you can find your signature scent in five easy steps. credit: shape magazine

STICK WITH YOUR FAMILY  Take a whiff of the perfumes you own−chances are, they’re all fairly similar. “People tend to gravitate toward one, overarching fragrance category,” says Kapla. When shopping, it’s best to stick within that same general family and experiment with different notes. If you’re go-to is a rosy fragrance, try one with jasmine or violet—different kinds of florals. By sticking to one category, you’ll dramatically narrow down your initial search. (Common fragrance families include floral, oriental, citrus, marine, and chypre−exotic, spicy scents.)

RISE AND SNIFF  When it comes to fragrance shopping, the early bird gets the worm. Your sense of smell is heightened in the morning.

SPRAY AND STOP  Grab two or three different bottles that appeal to you and spritz onto a paper blotter,  (don’t test on yourself quite yet). Take one sniff, then stop.   “You have to give the fragrance time to dry down so that the base notes come through,” says Kapla. “By the time you smell it again, you’ll have the most well-rounded version.”

NEUTRALIZE YOUR NOSE  “Our olfactory glands get fatigued after about three scents,” says Kapla. The result? You won’t be able to accurately differentiate the fragrances (and can wind up with a headache). Sniff something neutral, like a tissue or piece of paper, after every two to three perfumes to help reset your sense of smell., as the same fragrance will smell different on everyone.
DO A TEST RUN  Once you’ve found a few perfumes you really like, ask for samples to take home and wear, as the same fragrance will smell different on everyone. “Our sense of smell is extremely visceral, so at the end of the day, it’s always best to go with the one you just couldn’t stop sniffing,” advises Kapla. 

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